I Became the Mother of His Child

Cheng Guang, though teased by Xu Xiuxiu until he was huffy, was actually quite happy being with her since they hadn't walked to and from school together for a long time. After having enough fun at his expense, Xu Xiuxiu started making jokes with Cheng Guang, and on the way home, they bought two traditional ice lollies and nibbled on them all the way back.

In the Hai Chao Garden complex where Xu Xiuxiu lived, mother and son silently finished their ice lollies and tossed the sticks into the bin next to them, then they wiped their mouths, ready to go home.

"Xiuxiu." Li Yunqiong's voice suddenly rang out, halting the mother and son on their way upstairs.

"Yun Qiong?" Xu Xiuxiu turned her head towards the source of the voice, surprised. She held Cheng Guang's hand as they both looked at Li Yunqiong standing beside a black car, a sinking feeling inside her. She thought Li Yunqiong wasn't supposed to come looking for her again.

"Aunt Li." Cheng Guang had a good relationship with Cui Shuo, and although they didn't meet often, Cheng Guang had a good memory and recognized people well, so greeted Li Yunqiong politely upon seeing her.

"Yes, Cheng Guang is a good boy," Li Yunqiong said, casually closing her car door, then stepping towards Xu Xiuxiu and Cheng Guang. Looking at the lovely and fair Cheng Guang, Li Yunqiong's eyes twinkled, "Did you just pick up Cheng Guang from school?"

"Yes! I finally had some free time today, so I just happened to pick him up," Xu Xiuxiu responded, roughly guessing why Li Yunqiong had come to see her again. However, she did not reveal her thoughts and replied as if nothing was amiss.

Li Yunqiong nodded with a smile, eyeing Xu Xiuxiu for a long while as if hesitant, then after a considerable pause, she gathered her courage, "I said last time that I would bring Cui Shuo over to play at your place, and today, I've brought him. Would you welcome us?" Li Yunqiong asked Xu Xiuxiu with a timid voice.

"Welcome, of course, you are welcome," Xu Xiuxiu expressed surprise at Li Yunqiong's words. She had thought Li Yunqiong was coming back because she needed more of the scar treatment ointment, but that was not the case. It seemed she had misjudged the situation.

"Okay, then I'll call Cui Shuo out of the car," Li Yunqiong said, gratefully glancing at Xu Xiuxiu and then turning back to the car, fetching Cui Shuo from the backseat. She also carried several boxes of rather expensive gifts in her hand, clearly well-prepared.

"I regretted not being able to attend the housewarming and the one-month celebration for the boy and girl twins last time. Today, I can finally see the children. Look! These are gifts for your housewarming and the twins' celebration, and of course, a token of gratitude for the generous gift of medicine you gave me last time. You absolutely must accept them; you cannot refuse!" Li Yunqiong said with a laugh, placing the gifts into Xu Xiuxiu's hands.

"People coming is enough, there's no need for such courtesy," Xu Xiuxiu initially wanted to refuse, but upon a second thought, she accepted the gifts with mixed feelings. Her gaze, however, was fixed on Cui Shuo, who was being led by hand by Li Yunqiong.

The little guy was no longer the chubby, clingy child who had enthusiastically stuck to Song Chengguang at the playground when they first met. He had grown quite a bit taller and had become noticeably thinner, even frail compared to before. His gaze also held a hint of timidity, clearly showing the significant aftereffects the car accident had left on Cui Shuo. He was no longer the careless and carefree kid he used to be.

What shocked Xu Xiuxiu the most was the multitude of scars, both big and small, on Cui Shuo's face. Because they hadn't fully faded, they were somewhat frightening and left his face uneven.

"Mom…" Song Chengguang was considered to be one of the more sensible and bold kids his age, but when he saw the frightening scars on the face of this once-familiar friend, his body momentarily tensed, and he even thought about hiding behind Xu Xiuxiu. However, this shrinkage was not out of disgust but simply an instinctual discomfort at first.

After all, Cui Shuo's facial scars were indeed quite scary. When Xu Xiuxiu first saw them, she was even a bit frightened herself. Considering how young Song Chengguang was, it was normal for him to react this way. Xu Xiuxiu was about to comfort him, worried that his reaction might upset Cui Shuo, when she saw the little guy suddenly think of something. He stopped his attempt to hide and took a deep breath, mustering the courage to offer Cui Shuo a smile that could melt an iceberg.

Cui Shuo, though young, had lost a lot of his plumpness due to the unbearable pain after the accident. Even the solicitous friends he had at home no longer wanted to play with him. Having keenly felt the sting of beauty and ugliness, as well as the warmth and coldness of human relations at such a young age, he was deeply affected. It had taken much coaxing by Li Yunqiong before he was willing to step outside to visit his friend, Zhao Song Chengguang. Having finally mustered the courage to come out, he was afraid that Song Chengguang would reject him and be fearful of him, just like the other kids. Song Chengguang's instinctual reaction had hurt him a bit, and he was even preparing to burst into tears to vent his sadness. Yet, in the next moment, Song Chengguang again offered him a smile.

Cui Shuo suddenly felt he was being treated with tenderness. "Wow, Chengguang!" Cui Shuo called out Song Chengguang's name, and with sadness, he reached out and hugged Song Chengguang's small body tightly. "You're my good friend. Please don't dislike me, don't despise me." Cui Shuo spoke with an undertone of worry in his voice.

"Mmm. I don't despise you." Song Chengguang answered seriously, his little chubby hand quietly reaching up to pat Cui Shuo on the back. The little guy was actually a bit of a clean freak and hated it when others dirtied his clothes, but at this moment, Cui Shuo was crying and hugging him without a care, even rubbing his snot and tears on him—and Song Chengguang bore it.

"Let's take the children home first!" Xu Xiuxiu said, feeling deeply moved by the actions of the two children.

She actually quite liked Cui Shuo, the once chubby little ball who was cute and had a good nature. His temperament complemented Song Chengguang's coldness rather well. If one looked at their interpersonal relationship alone, she was quite fond of Li Yunqiong, and Cui Shuo and Song Chengguang got along well with each other.

But she hadn't expected the scars on Cui Shuo's face to be so severe. Logically, with that special ointment, if it couldn't completely remove the scars, it should at least have lightened them. So why were the scars on Cui Shuo's face still so frightening? Xu Xiuxiu couldn't understand.

"Okay!" Li Yunqiong saw Xu Xiuxiu glance at the scars on Cui Shuo's face and felt quite uncomfortable inside, but she suppressed her sadness: "Mao Mao, let's go to Auntie's house first, okay?" She spoke softly, afraid that speaking any louder might cause Cui Shuo to feel repulsed or rejected.

The scars on Cui Shuo's face had become her biggest concern—she was afraid that Cui Shuo would be unhappy.

"Mmm." Cui Shuo lifted his little face and nodded, then reached out to carefully take Song Chengguang's little hand. His tender and cautious manner touched Li Yunqiong's heart again, and tears unbiddenly welled up in her eyes.